Ceasefire Campaign
Japan set to ease arms export ban PDF Print E-mail

Japan is to ease a ban on arms exports that has been in place since 1967, the top government spokesman has confirmed.

The move will allow Japan to jointly develop arms with other countries and supply military equipment for humanitarian missions, the spokesman said.

It is expected to help bring military costs down at a time of growing concern about the massive public debt.

It is the first comprehensive revision to the ban since it was enacted.

Japan is concerned about the growing military might of China - and the threat from North Korea - and hopes the move will strengthen the domestic arms industry.

 

Close watch

"The new standards (on weapons exports) are a result of the government considering measures that required attention amid recent changes to the environment surrounding international defence equipment," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said.

The revised rules will continue to ban sales to communist nations, those subject to UN trade embargoes and those involved in international conflicts, the government said.

 

Mr Fujimura said Japan would still keep a close watch on exports to avoid fanning conflicts.

The ban is a legacy of Japan's post-war pacifist constitution. The restrictions on weapons sales date from the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, when Japan banned exports to communist countries and those engaged in international conflicts.

The ban was extended to most other countries in the following decade.

Exemptions have been granted in the past to allow technology sharing with the US, with which Japan has a security alliance.

Joint development with other nations is seen as a way to bring defence spending costs down. The move could also open up new markets for Japan's big defence contractors.
 
Britain accused of hypocrisy over Arab arms sales PDF Print E-mail

'Business as usual' as exports of military equipment to repressive regimes get approval

 The British Government was accused of "a brazen return to business as usual" yesterday, after licensing exports of weapons worth millions of pounds to regimes accused of repression, including Egypt and Bahrain. The permits were granted just months after ministers said they would "carefully review" licenses for countries that met protest with violence.

Arms approved for export by the UK last autumn include rifles, sniper sights, combat vehicle parts, artillery technology and gun silencers.

The revelation comes after David Cameron's visit to Saudi Arabia last Friday was marred by questions over Britain's continued export of arms to the kingdom, which has been accused of human rights violations. Despite unrest in Saudi Arabia last year, the UK sold the regime bomb equipment, weapons sights and components for military vehicles and helicopters.
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Press Release: Seriti Commission PDF Print E-mail

Press release

Ceasefire Campaign

27th October 2011 

 

Terms of reference of the Arms Deal Commission

 

The Ceasefire Campaign welcomes today’s statement by the Minister of Justice specifying the terms of reference of the Seriti Commission, but expresses reservations about certain aspects of them. As pointed out by Mr Terry Crawford-Browne, whose tenacity in this matter Ceasefire applauds, it appears that the appointment of sitting judges as members of the Commission may be irregular. Also, it appears that the work of the Commission may delay court action, which might otherwise set aside contracts entered into as part of the arms deal. It would have been helpful if, instead of acting unilaterally, the Minister of Justice could have consulted with those who have consistently opposed the arms deal in determining the terms of reference of the Commission.

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Ceasefire Press Statement PDF Print E-mail

In a submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations on 9th November, the Ceasefire Campaign argues that:

-        South Africa’s military security should be replaced with demilitarised defence methods and improvements in human security;

-        the SANDF should be mothballed;

-        by fiscal year 2015, military spending should be reduced to 0,5% of gross domestic product;

-        certain tasks that are currently undertaken by the SANDF should be demilitarised, partly by redefinition of the purpose and scope of those tasks and partly by transfer to other departments; and

-        the net savings should be used to provide jobs in the delivery of human security.


 

Arising from these arguments it is proposed that appropriations to defence in terms of  the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) be amended as follows.

 

Fiscal year

Current proposal

Ceasefire proposal

2011–12

34 605

34 605

2012–13

41 800

34 605

2013–14

44 400

27 300

2014–15

47 000

20 000

 

It is envisaged that about 25% of the savings (i.e. of the excess of the current proposal over the Ceasefire proposal) would be offset by additional expenditure by other departments arising from transfers of functions from the SANDF. The remaining 75% of the savings can be used for increasing government jobs in human security.

 

For further information please contact:

Rob Thomson

tel. 011 6465332

e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

or

 

Laura Pollecut

cell 082 0923849

e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
 
Ceasefire on the Dalai Lama Visa PDF Print E-mail

The Ceasefire Campaign notes with regret the undue delay in granting the Dalai Lama his visa to attend the 80th birthday celebration of his fellow Nobel laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The Dalai Lama, who no longer holds a political position in Tibetan affairs, should be welcomed as a man of peace to South Africa.  The planned visit is not an official one, but rather private.  The Dalai Lama also preaches reconciliation which has been our own rainbow nation’s stance.  The absence of the Dalai Lama at the august birthday party of our Arch, would be very sad indeed.

Notwithstanding our membership of Brics and the promise of massive Chinese investment, South Africa needs to assert its independence and integrity especially as our constitution, espouses freedom of religion and, more importantly, freedom of expression. We must not indulge in reprehensible conduct reminiscent of the apartheid era.  Here it is apt to paraphrase Archbishop Tutu: “If you dither in this situation of a visa, you have chosen to side with the oppressor.”

The Ceasefire Campaign supports the planned night vigil in Cape Town in front of our parliament on Monday to persuade the government to grant His Holiness the Dalai Lama his long delayed visa.

issued 30/09/2011

Contacts:

Guni Govinndjee 079 310 7437

Laura Pollecutt 082 092 3849
 
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